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Thursday, October 21, 2010

Incipio is taking a whole new design path with this wrist-worn carrying solution for the iPod nano. Meet the most rugged carrying solution for iPod nano produced to date, the Linq™. This is for users who already have or aspire for a lifestyle of action. Linq™ provides the user with an all-day, everyday accessory that may be worn effortlessly but always boldly.

The Linq™ design was born from the logical "link" between the idea of the iPod nano existing simultaneously as a timepiece and a media player. Linq™ is your ultimate watch, built to endure a rugged lifestyle. Your once fragile iPod nano is not so fragile anymore as it sits in Incipio's award winning Next Generation Polymer material securing to the wrist with a nylon and Velcro interchangeable strap.

This durable and rugged iPod nano carrying option is a perfect solution for users who want to keep all functions of the nano close at hand (literally) at all times. Now you can wear your 6th generation iPod nano all day, everyday without a hint of it ever being worn (or torn).

The Linq™ is expected to release late-October for $24.99. Additional watchbands may be purchased for $9.99 each.

Windows Phone 7 brings communications, content and services to life through its innovative user interface and smart design, thus offering a revolutionary multimedia experience on the move. It simplifies the way users consume information by organising content into hubs and effortlessly integrating communications, social media and entertainment applications into a single screen.

SingTel apps integrated into Microsoft Marketplace
Through a strategic partnership with Microsoft, SingTel will be the first operator in Singapore to offer a wide selection of apps via a dedicated section in Microsoft’s Marketplace apps store.
Customers can look forward to SingTel apps such as the award-winning AMPed social music service and the MobileTV video streaming service. In addition, all Windows Phone 7 handsets will be preloaded with SingTel’s Xplorer traffic navigation service and TrafficLIVE app.

Mr Yuen Kuan Moon, SingTel’s Executive Vice President of Consumer Group, said: “SingTel enjoys a special relationship with Microsoft. By bringing Windows Phone 7 to Singapore, we demonstrate our transformation into a multimedia solutions company, as well as our commitment to bringing the latest devices and best mobile experiences to our customers.

“Windows Phone 7 offers endless possibilities for our customers’ mobile lifestyles and is the ideal platform for SingTel’s suite of innovative apps and services. With the widest range of handset offerings and apps, we seek to enable our customers to enjoy the full potential of our unrivalled 3G mobile network.”

Ms Jessica Tan, Managing Director of Microsoft Singapore, said: “Windows Phone 7 marks a major milestone in Microsoft’s mobility history. Built from the ground up, it is designed to bring a different phone experience to people. We are pleased that Singapore is one of the first countries in the world to have Windows Phone 7.

“Through our strategic partnership with SingTel, we aim to not just take share but also grow the overall smartphone market. Through their differentiated price plans and applications, we are confident that Windows Phone 7 will see strong uptake amongst SingTel customers.”

SingTel will introduce three enhanced Windows Phone 3G Flexi price plans which include free local outgoing calls and data usage, as well as free MME and SingTel’s Xplorer service. Handsets are available from as low as $0 on selected SingTel Mobile plans.

Customers may pre-order Windows Phone 7 handsets at www.singtel.com/wp7 from 15 October to 20 October. Pre-order customers will stand to win LG LCD TVs and Microsoft products such as Xbox, optical mouse, keyboards and Office 2010.

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

It is said that the WooW! I-7U will be equipped with 7-inch (480 × 800) resistive touch panels, run Android 2.1 system, but manufacturers indicated that they will systematically conducted for flat Android 2.2 upgrade.

In addition the machine is equipped with special Telecships ARM1176jZ (F)-S processor that can support a similar cross-spectrum technology microprocessor upgrade technology to reduce the power to extend the life time.

In addition, the flat standard 4GB 256MB DDR2 memory and storage, supports both WiFi b/g and 802.11. Interface, WooW! I-7U equipped with HDMI, SD/SDHC expansion interface (maximum support 32GB). Manufacturers also stated that, with respect to the date of purchase of the first 100 users can get the value 299 $ leather keyboard set.

Just saw this post on some of the forums. The reviews looks good. Wonder if it is really that good.

Leica has officially revealed the M9 - a full frame version of its M-mount rangefinder. The Leica M9, with its 24 x 36mm, 18 megapixel sensor is, according to the company: 'the world's smallest full-frame system camera.' The body is available in a new 'Steel Gray' finish and offers minor button re-arrangement over the M8 - all the major changes relate to the internals. The Kodak-developed CCD sensor features improved offset microlenses to optimize performance at the edges of the frame along with a sensor cover with improved filtering of infrared light so lens-mounted IR filters are no longer needed. Most importantly, the 35mm film-sized sensor means every Leica M-mount lens provides the originally intended field of view.

Leica Camera AG today announces the world’s first digital rangefinder camera with a full-frame 24 x 36mm sensor. As the world’s smallest full-frame system camera, the LEICA M9 continues the long heritage of the Leica rangefinder system, and unites more than 50 years of continuous technical improvements to the M System with cutting-edge digital technology.

The successful combination of a high-resolution image sensor, the superior performance of Leica M lenses and sophisticated processing ensures the best imaging results, making the camera perfect for all fields of photography from reportage and ‘available light’ to the capture of discreet, spontaneous images.

The 18 megapixel image sensor, specifically designed and developed for the M9, enables capture of the full 35-mm film format without any compromise. All M lenses mounted on the LEICA M9 therefore offer the same focal length as originally intended, and the enormous potential performance of the current M lens portfolio, with focal lengths from 16 to 135mm, is now fully exploited in an M digital camera for the very first time.
Furthermore, the M9 sensor features a newly developed glass sensor cover designed to guarantee the suppression of the infrared portion of the light spectrum, avoiding the need to mount special UV/IR filters.

Leica has listened to photographers’ requests for quick access to essential features on the M9. One example is the new ISO adjustment button, which simply requires the user to hold down the ISO button whilst turning the dial to select the required setting – rather than having to access it via a menu. In addition, all other functions important for everyday photography are accessible by pressing the set button.
At just 139 × 37 × 80mm, the LEICA M9 maintains the compact size of the LEICA M8, despite the considerably larger sensor. The robust, one-piece, full metal housing, made from a high-strength magnesium alloy, combined with a solid brass top and bottom plate, provide perfect protection for the camera in all photographic situations. For photographers, this all adds up to absolute reliability over decades of use.

The LEICA M9 is available in two different styles: a standard black with ‘vulkanit’ finish, and for the first time, a version in steel-grey with classic leatherette finish.

M9 Sensor
The CCD, specially developed by Kodak for the LEICA M9, has been optimised to exploit the particular qualities of the Leica M lens system. As a result, the LEICA M9 achieves the highest resolution values, which in turn guarantee outstanding image quality.
The M9 sensor employs further advanced and meticulously-designed micro lenses with a low refractive index. The micro lenses at the sensor edges are laterally displaced towards the image centre to match the characteristics of M lenses precisely. This optimised micro lens design captures and concentrates even the most oblique rays on the sensor, and reliably prevents image brightness fall-off at the edges and corners of the image. As a result, all existing Leica M lenses maintain their full performance when used for digital photography.
A moiré filter has not been integrated, allowing full exploitation of the superb resolution of Leica M lenses. Any moiré patterns occurring are eliminated in the camera’s signal processing software. The optimised signal–noise ratio reduces the need for digital post-processing, and results in high-contrast, high-resolution exposures with natural colour rendition from corner to corner.

Lenses
Performance criteria, such as the individual coating of each element, have long been a Leica standard. For the first time, the immense performance potential of the M lenses is fully maintained and can be exploited for digital photography. In line with Leica’s commitment to system compatibility, almost all Leica M lenses built since 1954 can still be used on the new M9, as a result of their mechanical and optical precision.

The M9 sensor demands a particularly high spatial resolution, as offered by the latest M lenses. Their high resolution and efficient correction of optical aberrations make them all the more suitable for digital use. Current M lenses are supplied with a 6-bit code on the bayonet mount that is scanned optically by the M9. Using this coding, the M9 can compensate for any vignetting effects, if required. In addition, the lens type is recorded in the EXIF data and, when using the latest flash units such as the LEICA SF 58, automatically adjusts the reflector to match the focal length of the lens attached.

The viewfinder / rangefinder system
The Leica viewfinder / rangefinder system sets the LEICA M9 apart from SLR and compact digital cameras and makes it particularly suitable for reportage, ‘available light’ and discreet portraiture. Photographers become part of the action and frame their subject in the viewfinder, while still being able to see the full scene outside the viewfinder frame. The decisive moment can be anticipated and captured at precisely the right instant, resulting in particularly authentic images.

The clear view of the subject remains during the full exposure and, even in the most adverse lighting conditions, the bright, high-contrast viewfinder guarantees extremely fast and precise focusing. The minimal delay between shutter release and capturing the shot, together with the viewfinder / rangefinder system, positions Leica M cameras amongst the fastest in the world.

Shutter
The LEICA M9 features a new, microprocessor-controlled, particularly silent, metal-leaf, focal-plane shutter that enables shutter speeds of up to 1/4000 seconds. This means that the photographer still has complete creative freedom by using selective focus at maximum apertures, even in bright situations. The short flash synchronisation speed of 1/180 seconds enables daylight flash exposures with selective focus.

Together with its compact form, the camera’s almost silent shutter is another enormous advantage for discreet and unobtrusive photography. Photographers can also select the appropriate moment for re-cocking the shutter. When longer exposure times requiring an extremely steady camera stance are essential, a slight pressure on the shutter release button in ‘soft release’ mode is sufficient.

Intuitive handling
The M9 offers a simple, clearly laid-out and intuitive menu system that concentrates purely on the essentials; eliminating any multifunction buttons or complex menu hierarchies. The key control is an intuitive four-way switch and dial combination that enables fast menu navigation. Pressing the set button calls up the capture menu on the 2.5" monitor, and the most commonly-used functions are quickly and easily set in the menu: sensor sensitivity, exposure correction, white balance, image-data compression and resolution. Furthermore, favourite profiles can be named and saved for quick and easy access.

Sensitivity ranges from ISO 80 for wide-open apertures on bright days to ISO 2500. Very low-noise and finely detailed images are achieved throughout the sensitivity range, even at the highest settings, while the low noise characteristics, low-vibration shutter and fast lenses make the M9 the perfect camera for ‘available light’ photography.

Innovative flash technology
The LEICA M9’s M-TTL flash technology enables both precise and creative control over flash and mixed lighting effects. Prior to the actual exposure, a measuring flash is emitted that is metered through the lens. The flash power is then precisely determined according to the natural lighting situation. Due to the precise and delicate level of flash illumination, the natural lighting mood is maintained. In combination with aperture priority exposure mode, the auto-slow sync function ensures a particularly subtle lighting of the subject.

Tonal value histogram
The LEICA M9 offers an RGB tonal value histogram, which can be displayed at any time for image assessment, and is available in conjunction with automatic image review. A clipping warning indicating any overexposure of the image is also included. These two quality control tools are updated during zooming, allowing the quality of even the finest image details to be assessed.

Digital workflow
Adobe Photoshop Lightroom, a professional digital workflow solution for Apple Mac OS X and Microsoft Windows, is available as an online download for all LEICA M9 customers. Adobe Photoshop Lightroom offers a vast range of functions for the management, processing and presentation of digital images, whether in JPEG or DNG format. If the images are saved as raw data in Adobe Digital Negative Format (DNG), Adobe Photoshop Lightroom guarantees direct and high-quality image processing with maximum image quality. The 14-bit-per-channel colour information captured by the image sensor is maintained throughout the processing workflow until the final presentation, and ensures that the most delicate tonal differences are preserved.

Build quality and materials
Experienced Leica technicians in Germany are responsible for the assembly and calibration of the M9 camera bodies, as well as the precise testing of all mechanical and electrical components. In addition to the solid brass top and base plate and magnesium alloy body, several other structural features of the camera will ensure a long and reliable working life. The rechargeable battery and SD card slot are protected from dust and moisture under the base plate, while the locking mechanism prevents unintentional opening and the possible loss of the battery and SD card, even under the hardest reportage conditions.

Sensor cleaning
The LEICA M9 offers a special function for manual sensor cleaning: selecting the appropriate item from the menu and pressing the shutter release locks the shutter open to allow access to the sensor for cleaning purposes. Thanks to the short register of Leica M cameras, the sensor is easier to access than in a DSLR camera, where the sensor is located behind the mirror box and shutter assembly.

Pricing and availability
The LEICA M9 will be available in the UK from 9 September 2009 at a suggested retail price of £4,850 inc VAT. For further details and a list of authorised dealers including the new Leica Store Mayfair, please visit www.leica-camera.co.uk.